Disaster Managemnt
ter 1
CHAPTER 1 DISASTER MANAGEMENT An Introductory
1.1 Disasters – The Indian Scenario India supports one-sixth of the world’s population on just 2% of its landmass. It suffers heavily from natural disasters of every shade and description hits the poorest of the poor and which is why the considerations of disaster safety deserves prime attention. A High Powered Committee (HPC) of the Government of India, in its report submitted to the Government of India in October 2001, outlined the huge scope for Disaster Management by listing some three dozen different types of disasters India must prepare for [see Annexure I]. Of these, earthquakes, floods, cyclones and landslides rank among the most fear disasters in India, and the fear is naturally heightened in the areas affected by multiple hazards. Nearly 59% of India’s land area is prone to earthquakes of moderate to high hazard, nearly 12% is flood prone, about 8% is cyclone prone, 2% is landslide prone and a long coastline is exposed to tsunamis and storm surges. Drought, regarded as disaster in slow motion, affect as much as 68% of India’s land area. Of the 35 states and union territories, as many as 27 are disaster prone. And if the perceived threats due to other disasters such as chemical and terrorist attacks are added, every square inch of India is vulnerable, calling for immediate attention and sustained effort. These disasters along with others occur with unfailing regularity and the losses caused by them continue to mount year after year. This fact emphasizes the importance of protecting our buildings from hazards to prevent disastrous situations. 1. 2. Focus of Thinking in India With the recurrent earthquakes; Uttarkashi (1991), Latur (1993), Jabalpur (1997) and the supercyclone in Orissa (1999), the Government of India constituted a High Power Committee (HPC) on Disaster Management in 1999, the scope of which was enlarged in April 2000 to cover manmade disasters as well. In January, 2001, the
CHAPTER 1 DISASTER MANAGEMENT An Introductory
1.1 Disasters – The Indian Scenario India supports one-sixth of the world’s population on just 2% of its landmass. It suffers heavily from natural disasters of every shade and description hits the poorest of the poor and which is why the considerations of disaster safety deserves prime attention. A High Powered Committee (HPC) of the Government of India, in its report submitted to the Government of India in October 2001, outlined the huge scope for Disaster Management by listing some three dozen different types of disasters India must prepare for [see Annexure I]. Of these, earthquakes, floods, cyclones and landslides rank among the most fear disasters in India, and the fear is naturally heightened in the areas affected by multiple hazards. Nearly 59% of India’s land area is prone to earthquakes of moderate to high hazard, nearly 12% is flood prone, about 8% is cyclone prone, 2% is landslide prone and a long coastline is exposed to tsunamis and storm surges. Drought, regarded as disaster in slow motion, affect as much as 68% of India’s land area. Of the 35 states and union territories, as many as 27 are disaster prone. And if the perceived threats due to other disasters such as chemical and terrorist attacks are added, every square inch of India is vulnerable, calling for immediate attention and sustained effort. These disasters along with others occur with unfailing regularity and the losses caused by them continue to mount year after year. This fact emphasizes the importance of protecting our buildings from hazards to prevent disastrous situations. 1. 2. Focus of Thinking in India With the recurrent earthquakes; Uttarkashi (1991), Latur (1993), Jabalpur (1997) and the supercyclone in Orissa (1999), the Government of India constituted a High Power Committee (HPC) on Disaster Management in 1999, the scope of which was enlarged in April 2000 to cover manmade disasters as well. In January, 2001, the